Little Cloud

I have learned over the years to always expect something a bit different from Yves-Marie Tanton. This aluminum cutter was built by Kanter Yachts for a client who wanted a boat specifically designed for use in "high latitudes." It has several very interesting features.

The hull shape uses two chines that are radiused off to give the appearance of a round bilge shape but using bottom and topsides plating from constant angles. This makes the boat a bit more expensive than a single chine shape but it's cheaper than a fully round bilge shape. The midsection shows a deadrise angle of 10 degrees. The boat is not heavy with a D/L of only 163 and an L/B of 3.76, making it on the narrow side of what today would be "moderate." The entry is fine with a half angle of entry of 18 degrees. The rudder is set on a full-depth skeg. The low-aspect-ratio keel has internal lead ballast with tankage above it. Draft is 6 feet, 10 inches. The upper transom corner is heavily radiused, making the stern quite attractive. Despite the overall utilitarian look of this design I would expect it to have a good turn of speed.

The layout is planned around one couple with an occasional guest couple. There is a large stateroom forward with port and starboard single berths and an adjoining head. This area can be separated with a centerline bulkhead. The dining area is small but certainly adequate for four people. The galley is large, with considerable volume devoted to reefer and freezer compartments. The engine room is big and occupies the entire area below the pilothouse. I don't have a pilothouse layout but I know there is inside steering and I would assume two settees and maybe a small table. The nav station is tucked just aft of the galley. The aft stateroom features a double berth to starboard and a head with a shower stall. The layout is arranged so the boat can be broken down into areas with watertight bulkheads.

The rig is unusual in that it features a boom rotating off the top of the pilothouse with a loose-footed mainsail. This way the boom will also double as a vang and hold its angle as the sheet is eased. This also eliminates the need for a mainsheet traveler. The SA/D is 18.55, which is plenty for a boat like this. The cutter rig will optimize options for heavy-weather sailing. The bowsprit is retractable and designed to carry a multipurpose reacher/spinnaker.

On deck the cockpit is small and there is some overhang to the pilothouse to provide some protection in the cockpit. There is no outside steering. The client will use an autopilot joystick for outside steering. Halyards are all grouped on the deck around the mast.

The features of this custom design blend to make the boat ideal for its intended purpose. From robust aluminum construction to the plethora of watertight bulkheads and the snug pilothouse, this boat should be at home in the high latitudes.